My first ride of any distance on the Nomad

[tkd]

Ok, So I'm sure many of you are going to laugh at this, but since getting the bike 10 days ago, I haven't had a chance to really drive it anywhere more than 3 or 4 miles away. Today, I actually got to take the bike out and get it up to speed for a about 15 miles each way. I can definitely see where the Nomad's strength lies. It is a very smooth ride and to me it was totally amazing how nearly all hints of uneasiness over road imperfections around 45-50 miraculously went away around 60.

It seemed the faster I went, the smoother it got, which could be a dangerous thing me thinks. And the engine seemed to run smoother after having been worked a little vs. the around town stuff.

Only downside to my bike is the V&H pipes. I actually had a Roadking sneak up on me from behind due to the noise. I hate wearing earplugs, but I think they are gonna be necessary for my tender ears since pipes aren't in the cards right now.

[coacha]

Hey tkd, I did the same thing for the first few weeks I had my bike. I would just take rides around the neighborhood until I got the feel for everything.

I will say one thing about the Nomad...at interstate speeds, you can really get caught up and before you know it you can be slightly above the speed limit without noticing ;).

I always wear earplugs unless it is a short jaunt to the store a mile away from home. I can't afford to lose any more hearing.

[pirate]

TKD, glad to hear you got to get your Nomad up and running at cruising speed. I have the V & H baggers on mine too, but I don't find them too loud. I like to hear it purr when I'm going 70 mph down the road.

[ringadingh]

It takes a few weeks to really get comfortable with the bike, youll get used to it in no time. I wear earplugs with my V&H most times as well, but I love the sound.

It seems to me that the bike seems to settle into a zone at 65-70 mph. That to me seems to be where it runs best, gets the best mileage, and just feels right.

tkd,

The Nomad really eats up the road. It was made for highway cruising. Coming from a Honda Shadow, the switch to this thoroughbred is dramatic. Enjoy. Keep us posted on your rides.

P.S. It really does take a couple of weeks to "settle in" with your Nomad. After that, you'll wonder where it's been all your life.

[bigdave]

I had to do it the hard way dealer is 60 miles away picked the bike up at 6:30 pm in March so first ride on Nomad was at night and on interstate with a heavy wind. Had a great ride home

[tkd]

Guys,

I'm glad to know that I'm not alone on the break-in period for the Nomad----my break-in period, not the bikes.

I'm sure with a little patience and support from y'all, I'm gonna get hooked really fast.

[skeeter]

I had a 2 hr ride home from the dealer. It was awful hard to keep the speed down.

[jmorrow]

Originally Posted by tkd

Ok,
Only downside to my bike is the V&H pipes. I actually had a Roadking sneak up on me from behind due to the noise. I hate wearing earplugs, but I think they are gonna be necessary for my tender ears since pipes aren't in the cards right now.

Do your V&H have baffles in them? When I bought my wife's used Nomad the V&H did not have baffles and were WAY to loud. I purchased baffles from V&H and installed and it is about right now. The V&H sound louder than the Cobras on my Nomad but to me sounds better. Or I may be deaf. My wife say's I am, but I'm mainly just ignoring her.

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by Jim Dooley

Do your V&H have baffles in them? When I bought my wife's used Nomad the V&H did not have baffles and were WAY to loud. I purchased baffles from V&H and installed and it is about right now. The V&H sound louder than the Cobras on my Nomad but to me sounds better. Or I may be deaf. My wife say's I am, but I'm mainly just ignoring her.

Tell her you're not ignoring her....That's just selective hearing.

[racinchef]

When I first read your post the same idea that your baffles are not installed came to my mind. I have V&H and unless I am going up a long hill or under hard acceleration they are fairly subdued. I mounted a GPS and at highway speeds I can still here the voice commands through the unit unamplified. Maybe all you need is baffles.

[Top Cat]

Even if he does have baffles in the packing could be wore out. There is a way to redo the packing to quiet it down a bit.
Not that I don't like loud pipes you all know my stance on that issue ;)

My first ride on the Nomad was from the dealer too. He is also 60 miles away from where we live. Had a beautiful, sunny and cool day with a nice curvy & somewhat hilly two-lane road home, after leaving the four-lane.I knew within five miles that I had made the right decision! Still have the stock pipes, and decided I really liked 'em quiet!

+1 on the stock pipes.I like listening to the motor while accelerating,but not while I'm cruising.